Hanoverian Inspection 2001

Photos by Reg Corkum

We hosted our second American Hanoverian Society inspection Tuesday, October 16th. It was a really big event for our little farm. Ten Hanoverian mares, five non-Hanoverian mares, and twelve foals were presented. Several yearlings were brought in for branding as well. Members of the inspection team were Barbara Richardson, Volker Ehlers and Hugh Bellis-Jones. The judges did a wonderful job of explaining the inspection process, the reasons behind the scores, and were tactful and kind in their remarks. Handlers included Sterling Graburn and Maya Sniadecky. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all my friends who pitched in and made the day pleasant, smooth running and fun. Special thanks to Becky Potter and Becky Burns for grooming, Elizabeth O'Donnell for helping in too many ways to list, Lani Kirk for managing stalls and announcing, Louise Stokes for getting folks into the ring without gaps, and to Susan Griffin and Leslie Zeiger for pitching in at lunchtime.

The judging team carefully studying a mare

All ten Hanoverian mares presented were accepted into the Main Studbook. Mares scoring 7.0 were Madrigal (Mattgold/Diamont, a beautifully preserved 15 yr. old owned by Marie Leslie-Schretzman) and Destinie (Der Radetzky/Wertherson /Grundstein, owned and bred by Mary Lou Winn of Home Again Farm). Three mares scored 7.5. They were Wunderlich (Wallstreet Kid/TB, the highest scoring TB cross on the national tour to date, owned and bred by Lisa Philipson), Ferrah Gump (Wuemmestern/Gesandt, owned by Lorraine Powell and bred by Lucille Mulky), and Wintermaske (Weltbekannt/Rubinstein I/Sendbote, owned and bred by Mary Lou Winn of Home Again Farm). Wintermaske received the plus score to win the Champion Hanoverian Mare rosette. The mares that received 7.0 and above are eligible for Elite mare status after passing a mare performance test in the future.

Destinie trotting her way to a 7, making her eligible to be an Elite mare

Judge Volker Ehlers gives Wintermaske her ribbon and a pat, while Maya looks on

The non-Hanoverian mare class was quite a sensational one, with much quality. The top scoring mares in that class were Rikkorella (Rouletto/Don Gregory, Oldenburg, owned by Judy Yancey, and scoring 7.5), Rohanna (Rohdiamant /Freiherr/Aktuell, Oldenburg, owned by Mary Lou Winn of Home Again Farm, bred by Rosemarie Boelts, Germany, scoring 8.2), and Preference (Jonggor's Weyden/Daimler, KWPN, owned by Judy Yancey, scoring 8.2). Preference received the plus score to win the Champion non-Hanoverian Mare rosette. Preference and Rohanna ended up tying another mare for the high score of the entire AHS 2001 tour.

Rohanna, showing off the balance and beauty that earned an 8.2, one of the highest scores in the nation on the Hanoverian tour

Royal Destinie strutting her stuff at her keuring

Wisteria showing the movement and balance that made her top filly at her keuring

We presented our filly Royal Destinie by Rotspon out of Destinie, and our filly Wisteria by Wolkenstein II out of a Rubizza. Our little girls were the top fillies, with Wisteria edging her stable mate Royal for top billing. Other foals presented included a filly by Abdullah, out of a Gesandt mare (owned and bred by Barbara Britt), a filly by Diamont out of a Wuemmestern mare (owned and bred by Michele Buholz), a colt by Werther out of a Dominator mare (owned and bred by Denise Graumann-Secino), a colt by Bordeaux out of an SPS mare by Pik Bube (owned and bred by Helen Hein), a colt by Pablito out of a mare by Kalypso (owned and bred by Stephanie Morse), a colt by Fuerst Gotthard out of a mare by Windsor (owned and bred by Marilyn Tobey), a filly by Gold Luck out of a TB mare (owned and bred by Jane Whitehurst-Sprecher). The Werther colt owned and bred by Denise Graumann-Secino was the top colt.

Branding occurred after the foal presentation. All went smoothly. The inspectors departed for their next stop in Texas, leaving high praise for the quality of the mares presented and for the way the inspection had been organized.

As a breeder, owner and horse mom, I can't be more elated with our results. It validated my breeding program and gave me a lot of encouragement for the chores to come in the next foaling and breeding season. I hope those who attended had a wonderful time, and I look forward to hosting another inspection next year.